Meeting In The Middle

Hoodies and Dark Memories

It was dark, clouds lined the gray sky. Light snow were falling from the sky, like gifts from the gods. A dark forest loomed overtop of me, casting dark black shadows onto the white snow. Like darkness consuming the light, evil destroying the innocent. I waited, patiently for a boy I loved. Just to see him. The cold wind was biting at me and every second, the sky seemed to be getting darker. A howl rustled through the woods and I suddenly feel like I'm being watched. I look around, a worry starting to grow in my heart. I realize how dangerous this was. I was a girl, standing beside the forest at night with wolves. I start to back away when I hear the branches snap. I get ready to kill someone when I feel an embrace.

"Dylan?" I whisper, my voice cracking at the end from standing in the cold for so long. He nods against my head, warming me. I shiver as a cold breeze blew by.
"Where were you for the past three weeks?" I breathe, my voice sending frosty smoke breaths into the cold atmosphere. "You didn't even tell me you were going and I was so worried. What are you doing in that forest anyways?"

Dylan had taken off his grey hoodie after I shivered again. I put it on and buried my face into it. I take his hand and guide him in the direction of my house.

"Come. Ill warm you up and get you some clothes and hot chocolate." I rush through my words. "Then we'll tell everyone you're alright and well."

He shakes his head impatiently and steals a glance at the woods behind us.
"I can't." He whispers, almost pleadingly.
I watch him with a frown. This wasn't like the Dylan I knew. Dylan kisses me lightly on the cheek and backs away into the woods. I could feel tears in my eyes.

"Don't leave!" I cry, falling into the snow. My ripped jeans exposed my pale skin to the cold blanket of white. This was not comforting at all. Dylan backs away with regret in his blue eyes. I go through a phase of pain, then rage takes over.

"You don't care about me anymore do you?" I scream. He clamps his hand over my mouth. I kick him. Hard. It doesn't hurt him at all. I cry and struggle in his tight grip. He releases me after a moment. I stare at him with wide eyes.

"Why. Why did you do that?" I gasp, my cheek already bruising from his hard grip. He looked at me, almost emotionless.
"Don't speak to anyone about seeing me. Pretend like we didn't meet today." He says in a flat, dead voice. I stare at him in horror, my cheek still throbbing with pain. Where did he get all this strength from? I stay silent but I was shaking inside. This was not the Dylan I know. This is not the Dylan I wanted to know. I shake my head. I couldn't say anything, the cold was freezing my throat. My tears seemed to have frozen on my dry face and formed crystals of pain that I will never forget.

Dylan turns and stalks into the forest without looking back. Not even once. I shiver for the third time today, and not because of the cold anymore. I realize that I was still wearing his hoodie. His cursed hoodie. I threw it off and bite my lip to stop the tears from falling. I couldn't. Fresh tears fell and stained the grey hoodie with patches of darkness.

I threw the hoodie on the snow, as hard as I could. My heart was beating fast. I was getting over that emotional state now. I hated him. I HATE DYLAN. I stamp on the hoodie with all the rage in my heart. Before I leave, I see yellow eyes watching me intently from the deep of the woods. I wasn't even afraid, I just wanted to get away. I never wanted to see him again.

I never thought I would.

Dylan was leaning against the lockers with a sly smirk. I wanted to wipe that smirk right off his pretty face. He was dressed in black skinny jeans and a light grey hoodie that was darkened in some spots. I remember that hoodie. He had given it to me to wear when the bitter cold was eating away at me. I loved him but the past was behind me now. He had hurt me and I wasn't ready to forget.

He was chatting with the blonde cheerleader and she was inching herself closer to him, batting her dark eyelashes like a Barbie doll. I glare at him straight in the eye as I passed him.

"Unbelievable Dylan. Just unbelievable." I mutter under my breath. I was almost at the point when I was about to snap. He hears me and pushes the blonde aside, running after me. I completely ignore him, but I could feel his body heat radiating off him. I could hear his steady breathing. He was just like I remember him, maybe taller and definitely more buff.

"Listen. I'm sorry." He catches up with me without even trying. I curse under my breath. He hears me. "I was young and stupid. I don't even know what came over me when I left that day, I just needed some time alone. To think."
"About what?!" I snap. I couldn't take it anymore. Memories just kept building up inside me like a wall I couldn't escape. I run into the nearest bathroom, tears stinging in the back of my eyes. I was in a mental state of shock. And anger. I couldn't stand the pressure of seeing him again, it was too much.

The light flickered and I felt hot tears on my cheeks. I walk out of the stall, calming down, the memory replaying like a recorded tape that was stuck in the record player. I splash cold water on my face and stare at myself in the mirror, biting my lip and frowning. I had hazel brown hair and dark lashes that framed dull green eyes. I was a walking mess. I sigh and decide to face the world as hard as it seems.

Caleb was sitting in the corner and waiting for me outside the bathroom. He jumped up when he saw me come out. I force a smile, hoping he couldn't see through me.

"Are you alright?" He asks with a concerned frown. I nod. I walk with Caleb to the history room, my head still pounding from the memory. I collapse in my chair and lay my head on the cool smooth surface of the desk. It almost felt as good as the snow. I couldn't let my mind wander. I would think about Dylan too much and it hurt more than anything.

Caleb gives me a supportive smile from across the room. I nod at him as the teacher walked in. He begins pointing at the board and welcoming us to his class. Mr. Garner he wrote on the board. I could sense a very long lesson ahead.